MMA news: Leon Edwards breaks silence following Belal Muhammad defeat
Ever since losing the UFC Welterweight title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in July, Leon Edwards has been quiet when it comes to discussing his future.
After Edwards’ name did not seem to be mentioned as a possible replacement opponent for Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 following Belal Muhammed’s injury, many fans wondered when we could see the former champion inside the Octagon again, writes Sports News Blitz’s Niall Togher.
In a recent interview with his sponsor Myprotein on their Instagram page, Edwards revealed his goal is to regain the title by the end of 2025.
“My goal right now is to get the belt back. I’d love to be champion again by the end of next year,” he said
“I haven’t lost a fight in nine years, so I was getting used to that feeling again. I feel like I hate losing more than I love winning.
“You know there’s not much you can do now - just move on from that.
“You put it behind you and for me, it’s about what’s next and how you get back to where you want to get to.
“My goal is to be a two-time world champion,” he added.
It would typically be expected that Edwards’ next opponent would be in the top five - but with Sean Brady having recently just fought in September, Shavkat Rakhmonov scheduled to fight in December and Kamaru Usman and Jack Della Maddalena rumoured to be fighting each other at UFC 312 in February, Edwards seems to be left without an opponent.
Perhaps now is the last chance for the UFC to make the eagerly-anticipated match-up between Leon Edwards and Jorge Masvidal following the infamous ‘three-piece and a soda’ incident backstage between the pair in 2019.
With the UFC heading back to London in March, it gives both fighters a chance to put an end to their long-standing feud - and would be the perfect comeback fight for Masvidal against another high-profile opponent in the very place their rivalry began all those years ago.
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